CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose isnt wavering. He still sees himself as a star, a cornerstone player, despite another major knee injury that brought his long-awaited return to a screeching halt. So he wasnt quite sure what to make of the idea. Is it time for the Chicago Bulls to move on, to abandon the idea of building around him, given his injuries? "What can I say to that?" Rose said. Then, after a long pause, he added, "You could be a fool if you want to. Dead serious. I know Im going to be all right." In fact, hes not quite ruling out a return this season. The superstar point guard left the door slightly open for a comeback in the playoffs if his surgically repaired right knee is healed -- even though the team has said he will miss the rest of the year. Rose tore the medial meniscus in his right knee in a game at Portland on Nov. 22. He had surgery in Chicago three days later, cutting short his comeback after he sat out last season recuperating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. "If Im healthy and the situation is right, I will be back playing," Rose said Thursday when asked if he might return for the playoffs. "If Im healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course Ill be out there playing. But if its something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, theres no need." That comment aside, the odds of a comeback this season appear to be just about nil given that the team has ruled him out. "Right now, its been determined that hes out for the season," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "So thats the way were going to approach. If something changes later on, well adjust then." The bigger issue remains how effective Rose will be whenever he makes his next return. The MVP in 2011, he tore the ACL in his left knee in the playoff opener against Philadelphia the following year, sending top-seeded Chicago to a first-round exit. The Bulls relived their nightmare last month in Portland when Rose lost his footing while turning to get back on defence. Rose limped across the court, unable to put any weight on his knee, a huge blow for a team that thought it would challenge Miami in the Eastern Conference. Rose is in an all-too-familiar spot, trying to recuperate. He has played in just 50 NBA games -- 49 in the regular season and that lone playoff game -- since the Bulls run to the conference finals during his MVP season, but he felt as if he was returning to form just as he went down again. Rose was averaging 15.9 points and was shooting just over 35 per cent. But he looked a little better in his final two games with 19 points in a loss at Denver and 20 against Portland. "I was catching a rhythm of how I used to play," he said. "I think I was getting in condition more than anything for this season. For this one to happen, just from me turning and running back down the court, theres nothing I can say about it, nothing I can do about it, but just take it, be strong." Rose wondered how it could happen to him again after everything he went through. But he was also relieved he didnt suffer an ACL tear. Even so, he knew the injury was serious when he was being examined in Portland. He said his leg was "catching on the meniscus side, on the inside." "I started thinking about, Why me? and all that stuff the day after the surgery," Rose said. He said meniscus tear was a "freak accident." "(The doctors) look at the tape, look at the film," Rose said. "The first one (the ACL tear) could have been I put too much pressure or I put too much weight on that leg at that time. This one ... I didnt buckle me knee or anything. I paused for a second. I was able to still run a few steps before I couldnt walk. It just happened." Now, hes going for therapy every day. Hes incorporating yoga and swimming into his rehab routine and is able to put pressure on his leg. He said he might try to land a spot on the U.S. world championship team next summer if hes ready, but he still wont be playing in any pickup games. He also said hes not about to start recruiting players to Chicago -- something he hasnt done in the past -- even though the Bulls core could have a different look. Luol Deng has an expiring contract and Carlos Boozer is a candidate to be amnestied. But Rose said he hasnt thought about possible changes. "Theres a chance I could come back so Im just cheering them on," he said. For now, the Bulls are in a difficult spot. They were third in the Central division at 7-9 entering Thursdays game against Miami, one that looked like a marquee matchup when the schedule came out. Since then, it has lost that shine. Rose insisted hes not finished. "I believe that Im a special player. I think people love the way that I just play. I dont try to impress anyone while Im playing or anything. Ive just got a feel for the game. I know my story is far from done." . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue. . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework.
http://www.cheapbuccaneersjerseyssale.c ... mmissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. .com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. . Jannero Pargo scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Charlotte Bobcats erase a 21-point deficit and rally for an 83-76 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at
cmonref@tsn.ca. Kerry, Love reading your columns every day. I wanted to ask you about Mondays incident in Dallas, where Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench and the game was eventually postponed. Whats the protocol from the refs perspective when a game gets postponed? Does he make that call on the ice or does he have to call the NHL front office? Have you ever experienced something similar to Mondays incident in your reffing career? Thanks,Dave VieiraMilton, ON Dave: We must continue to offer prayers for Rich Peverley, his family, teammates, the Dallas Stars management and his fans throughout the hockey world. When a tragedy like this occurs it certainly transcends the game and causes us to reflect on what is most important in life; namely our health and that of our family. In many dealings I had with Rich Peverley on the ice, I know him to be an exceptional young man beyond just his obvious talent as a player. We need look no further than the reaction (and swift action) demonstrated by the Dallas Stars players and coaching staff last night to recognize what an important member of their extended family Rich Peverley truly is! Coach Lindy Ruff, while visibly shaken, addressed the media and commended the outstanding response provided by the medical team; without their efforts his remarks, admittedly might have been much more somber. Quick medical response similar to that mentioned by Lindy Ruff last night in Dallas has also been credited with averting potential tragedies involving Jiri Fischer (cardiac arrest), in addition to Richard Zednik and Clint Malarchuk (both of which suffered a potentially fatal throat slash from a skate during separate games in Buffalo). The unsung heroes from the medical staffs throughout the entire National Hockey League deserve our utmost respect, appreciation and admiration. The referees expected protocol that you enquired about, Dave, is to first kill the play immediately whenever a serious injury/incident is witnessed or, as was the case last night, he is made aware of one taking place. If an official is the first responder to an on-ice injury he should remain calm and attempt to provide comfort and assistance to the injured player until the medical team arrives and then get out of the way. The decision to suspend a game is exclusively entrusted to Commissioner Gary Bettman and/or through his designate, Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell.dddddddddddd Since every minute of every game is monitored in the Situation Room in Toronto, all hands would have been on deck once the game was stopped in Dallas and it became apparent that Rich Peverley was in distress. Telephone conversations from team personnel and the officiating crew would have been initiated as soon as possible to provide eyes on the scene and continually update the Commissioner and Colin Campbell with information as it became available. The game officials have a telephone in their dressing room that can connect with the Situation Room in Toronto. The primary information on the players status would come via Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill and Blue Jackets President John Davidson who were on the scene. The first and most obvious concern would be for the health and well-being of the athlete. All energy and assets went in that direction last night. Once it was learned that Rich Peverley had regained consciousness, was aware of his surroundings and even alert to the point that he wanted to know how much time was remaining in the period, a huge sigh of relief was felt by everyone. With Rich Peverley stabilized and being transported to the hospital, the decision then had to be made as to whether the game should continue. For that to happen, the impact of this incident on the players from both teams would have to be evaluated and considered. Both coaches would have been consulted as to the emotional status of their players after witnessing this shocking and disturbing incident. The Commissioner and Colin Campbell did what was in the best interest of everyone involved; the players, coaches, and the fans in the building and those watching on television when they made the decision to postpone the game. Even though I witnessed many injured players carried from the ice on a stretcher during my officiating career, I count myself fortunate not to have experienced, first-hand, a potentially life threatening incident like we saw last night in Dallas or the others I mentioned. I felt physically ill just watching the incident last night on television and cant imagine the emotion one would experience at ice level. I am sure everyone will join me in offering best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Rich Peverley and to his family. ' ' '
